Forbidden Love

Chapter 22

I bounded down the coridoor towards my dorm. I needed to get my things and get out as quickly as I can. I didn't want any convincing to stay speeches by Molly or Robert. I didn't need it. I have had enough of this place and if I didn't get away I'd go as mad as a hatter. My heart pounded as hard as a gong as I tried to ignore the scrutinising stares of passer bys in the hallways. I couldn't get my key in the door quick enough before I was in my room grabbing every possesion of mine and shoving it into my case.

I was reluctant to move my case as I knew what terror lay underneath it. But eventually I had to and the dark crimson stain was uncovered. There was no point in reminicing about it anymore; I had some on my arms if I wanted to sit and ponder all of my stupid decisions. I was careful to avoid the majority of people as I slipped out nearly unseen, by students that is. Luckily no teacher had seen me, and by the time they would notice I was gone it would be too late anyway. I didnt look back. I couldnt. Instead I ran as fast as my legs could carry me with a suitcase and made up the road out of the school grounds. I knew Kellin told me not too, but he wasn't here. Since not seeing him I had felt like a brick wall with no cement. Only strong enough to stand until someone came and kicked it over. And well, I felt well and truly demolished.

............

"Hey! Molly." I knocked again for the tenth time. "MOLLY!" The door opened and I nearly fell. I was greeted by the red faced, wet cheeked Molly who was holding a set of keys in her hand. She continued to cry and fear swept over me. "What's wrong? What's happened?"

"It's Scarlett." She wimpered through her tears.

"What the hell has happened? Where is she?" I strode past her and heading for Scarletts room kicked open the door in a rush of worry. Everything was gone. Everything. Except one thing... I walked warily to a dark patch on the cream carpet. I felt choked as I spoke, "Is that what I think it is?" Molly simply nodded holding her face in her hands. "She's really gone isn't she?" I could barely contain my worry thinking about the fact that she might be hurt and is alone out there. "Maybe I should call Kell-."

"No!" I leapt up and took her hands in mine. "Don't! He would try to leave the hospital and I don't want him to worry! Look, stay here I'm going to try and find her okay. I'll be back soon." I didn't only hope for her sake that that I would find her, I hoped for Kellins sake. He had never stopped talking about her all the time I visited. I'd known him all his life and I have never heard him talk about someone else the way he talks about her. Not even...Rose. Its like ever since Scarlett came along, the wounds of Rose had finally began to heal. I didn't think he'd ever be able to go into a proper relationship. I know the whole fiasco with Amy but that was when he was most vulnrable and Amy being Amy had her clutches firmly in him and I was happy to hear that he had finally shaken her off but she had never let that stop her. I passed the devil half way down the stairs. She even tried grabbing me but I just shoved her off.

"Have you seen a girl, about this height," I indicated somewhere on my chest, "chestnut brown hair, slim?..." I shouted to the man standing at the bus stop when I got outside the school grounds.

"Yer, lass went thata way." He indicated left and I reluctanlty followed as he sounded half drunk. Luckily not that many people were around as I practically screamed Scarletts name. Where is she? The streets were eerily dark. What made things worse were the methodically placed streetlights which illuminated the fog underneath them. She must have been so dead set on leaving otherwise she would have at least said goodbye. I felt like such an idiot for leaving her alone... I should have known that she would have felt so broken by all of this, even that Kellin had told me to tell Molly to tell Scarlett to not come to the hospital. I literally felt like kicking myself right about now. "SCARLETT!" This time I sounded even more desperate. People probably would have thought I was some derranged boyfriend chasing a girl through the streets if they saw me now.

What? "Scarlett?" Oh my God it was her. I sprited to her and instantly took her in my embrace. "What are you doing." Dont cry Robert, don't cry Robert.

"I- I have to go Robert. I'm so sorry."

"Go? Go where?" I smelt her sweet musky hair as I held her even tighter.

"Home. I need some time alone."

"You can't be alone! Not like this..."

"I will be fine."

"Just think about this Scar please. I'll take you to see Kellin! Right now! Come on let's go..." I took her hand and her suitcase handle. She stood firm and removed my arms from around her shoulders. A black taxi pulled up to the curb and the driver got out.

"He doesn't want me there."

"No he does Scar he really does, now come on-"

"Problem?" The driver approached us.

"No." She took her case from my hands and I watched helplessly as the driver loaded it into the back of his taxi. "Goodbye Robert." She kissed my cheek and I caught her hand as she entered the taxi. "Think about this please I beg you." She didn't answer, her eyes were glassy and brimming with tears. "Please Scar, please don't go."

"I have to." She whipsered as the driver pushed past me and closed the door. Before I could get another sentence out she had gone. The car had sped away as quickly as it had arrived. I.didn't.even.ask.for.her.address. I dropped to my knees. She is gone. And I don't even know where exactly. I felt like such a failure. GOD! Forget kicking myself, shooting myself felt more appropriate.

I reluctanly picked myself up. What am I going to say to Molly? What am I going to say to Kellin? In essence I feel like I've failed him as a cousin and best friend altogether. She's in danger. That's what he'd said. Only now had I begun to suspect his 'stabbing' wasn't a coinsidence... What about the time Scarlett had been attacked in the woods? All of these things going on in these woods, it just didn't seem right... Something is going on here. Something big and I need to find out.

"Excuse me?" A deep, dark voice intruded my thoughts. I picked my head up.

"Yes?" A groan escaped my lips. All of a sudden the world around me started to cave in and the pavement was rising up to my face. Then a blur followed by a sheer darkness took over my body completely...